Even in an administration that has been stuffed with surprises, Donald Trump’s pivot to Pakistan has stood out.
The U.S. president has developed an in depth relationship with senior Pakistani management, together with the nation’s highly effective navy chief, Asim Munir—whom he hosted on the White Home in June and once more in September—and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whom he has met thrice this 12 months.
Trump has praised each males, describing them as “nice folks” in a speech at a summit in Southeast Asia in October. “I like Pakistan,” Trump stated earlier than internet hosting Munir in June.
Sharif and Munir have additionally showered Trump with reward, endorsing his quest for a Nobel Peace Prize each formally and informally a minimum of half a dozen occasions. “You’re the person this world wanted most at this time limit,” Sharif informed Trump in October in Egypt, the place the 2 males had gathered with a number of different leaders to formalize the Gaza cease-fire settlement.
International locations around the globe have adopted quite a lot of methods to navigate Trump’s second time period—a spectrum starting from flattery to uneasy coexistence to outright defiance—with various levels of success. There’s a widespread recognition that Pakistan has managed to play its playing cards extra efficiently than most.
“The Pakistanis have performed an excellent job of creating a optimistic relationship with President Trump,” a former U.S. diplomat who served throughout Trump’s first time period informed Overseas Coverage, requesting anonymity to talk candidly.
“They’ve gamed Trump’s character,” stated Husain Haqqani, a senior fellow on the Hudson Institute who served as Pakistan’s ambassador to america from 2008 to 2011. “They gave him the reward that he wished.”
Pakistan’s present ambassador to Washington, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, described Islamabad’s method thus: “It’s persona, priorities, coverage—in that order.”
Past the fondness for alliteration, nonetheless, it’s instructive to have a look at not solely how Pakistan made probably the most of what it had—silver-tongued leaders and important mineral reserves, for starters—but additionally the way it made up for disadvantages in different areas by hiring lobbyists near Trump and by exploiting his curiosity in cryptocurrencies. Crucially, all of this has come as Trump’s ties with the nation’s geopolitical archrival, India, have frayed, upending a decades-long development line in South Asia.
Commuters await transport close to a billboard that includes Pakistan Chief of the Military Employees Gen. Asim Munir, alongside a avenue in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on Could 14. Farooq Naeem/AFP through Getty Photographs
Throughout a speech in Egypt in October, Trump known as Munir his “favourite discipline marshal”—a understanding reference to the truth that Munir had turn out to be solely the second Pakistani to carry that title. “Trump likes people who find themselves accountable for their nations and he likes strongmen, stated Haqqani. “Subject Marshal Munir could be very a lot in that class.”
Pakistan has spent large to determine what else Trump likes. Islamabad shelled out hundreds of thousands of {dollars} earlier this 12 months to rent a number of lobbying companies run by a few of Trump’s former associates. (It’s additionally employed a number of exterior PR companies, certainly one of which helped facilitate FP’s interview with the nation’s present ambassador.)
However Pakistan’s earliest win with Trump got here in February, when it helped america arrest Mohammad Sharifullah, the mastermind of a 2021 suicide bombing in Kabul through the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan that killed 13 U.S. service members and round 170 Afghan civilians. “I wish to thank, particularly, the federal government of Pakistan for serving to arrest this monster,” Trump stated whereas addressing a joint session of Congress in early March, referring to Sharifullah.
Trump’s gratefulness represented a major departure from his first time period in workplace, when in 2018 he accused Pakistani leaders of “lies & deceit” earlier than suspending most navy support to the South Asian nation. “They offer protected haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little assist,” he wrote on the time. Nevertheless, later in his time period, Trump developed a rapport with then-Prime Minister Imran Khan, assembly him first in 2019 and once more in 2020, when Trump described Khan as his “superb buddy.”
President Joe Biden reverted to isolating and sidelining Pakistan, breaking with precedent by not calling Khan after he entered the White Home. (Khan was ousted in 2022 and jailed the next 12 months, the place he’s now serving a 14-year sentence.)
The Afghanistan operation in March 2025 gave Islamabad an opportunity to interrupt the mildew.
“That was the speedy tactical win they wished to provide Trump, and showcase that Pakistan has issues of worth after which construct on the connection from there,” stated Uzair Younus, a principal on the Asia Group in Washington, D.C.
Whereas enjoying to the U.S. president’s character has been an necessary aspect of Pakistan’s Trump 2.0 sport plan, Islamabad has additionally provided him tangible avenues—“issues of worth”—to additional a few of his key strategic priorities.
Chief amongst these is vital minerals. Trump has been on a world quest for the 5 dozen parts that assist energy a number of shopper and navy applied sciences and whose provide chain China largely controls and has been more and more keen to weaponize in commerce negotiations. Regardless of being certainly one of China’s closest allies, Pakistan has given Washington what it needs. The Frontier Works Group, a key engineering department of the Pakistani navy, signed a $500 million deal with the agency U.S. Strategic Metals in September to ship minerals comparable to copper and antimony to america from Pakistani deposits which are estimated to span greater than 230,000 sq. miles.
“On vital minerals, the Pakistanis had put within the lengthy yards strategically,” Younus stated.
Pakistan’s effort to leverage its mineral wealth does predate Trump by a number of many years. Balochistan, the nation’s largest however most unstable province, is house to huge reserves of gold, copper, and different minerals estimated to be value billions of {dollars}, however Western efforts to faucet these reserves have gotten mired in yearslong authorized disputes. Probably the most distinguished instance of that was Reko Diq, a big gold and copper reserve that was the topic of a number of court docket challenges and worldwide arbitration involving Australian, Chilean, and Canadian corporations that led to its growth being placed on maintain in 2011.
Khan’s authorities sought to revive the mine in 2022, agreeing to a settlement with Canadian mining firm Barrick Gold that gave the corporate a 50 % share of the enterprise. Earlier this 12 months, the World Financial institution’s private-sector funding arm, the Worldwide Finance Company, agreed to supply a minimum of $300 million in financing to the challenge, and Barrick signed a $440 million deal for mining tools with Japanese conglomerate Komatsu, which stated it could make most of that tools in america.
In April this 12 months, the Trump administration additionally despatched an interagency delegation led by the State Division to the Pakistan Minerals Funding Discussion board in Islamabad.
All these efforts despatched a “very clear sign” that “come what might, the choice of Pakistan was to work with the West on this mine,” Younus added. “That framework opened the door for Donald Trump and others within the administration to say [that] maybe Pakistan is keen to stroll the speak on vital minerals.”
In a photograph launched by the White Home, Trump and Sharif speak alongside U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Pakistan’s Munir within the Oval Workplace on Sept. 25.White Home photographer
A photograph launched by the White Home exhibits Munir presenting vital minerals to Trump within the Oval Workplace on Sept. 25.White Home photographer
Right here, too, there was a component of pomp and showmanship. When Sharif and Munir visited the White Home in September, they introduced a assortment of rock samples to point out Trump.
One other space of U.S.-Pakistan cooperation that has acquired vital consideration is cryptocurrency. The Trump administration has elevated the crypto trade considerably over the previous 12 months, making a strategic reserve for some digital currencies and pledging to make america the “crypto capital of the world.”
Trump additionally launched his personal crypto firm, World Liberty Monetary, in September 2024—weeks earlier than being elected president—together with Steve Witkoff, who’s now his administration’s Center East envoy. Trump and Witkoff are each presently listed as “co-founder emeritus” on the corporate’s web site, with Trump’s three sons and Witkoff’s two sons listed amongst seven different co-founders.
The Trump household’s companies have netted a whole lot of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} via the corporate’s abroad offers—together with with a number of governments—and initiatives such because the issuing of a $TRUMP “meme coin.” Trump has brushed apart battle and ethics issues. “My sons are concerned in crypto way more than I,” he stated in an interview with 60 Minutes in late October. “You already know, they’re working a enterprise, they’re not in authorities. They usually’re good.”
The Pakistani authorities has additionally seized on crypto as a possible pathway out of its long-running financial woes, making an attempt to legalize and formalize digital currencies by launching the Pakistan Crypto Council in March, chaired by the nation’s finance minister.
A flurry of U.S. engagement adopted. In April, the council signed a letter of intent with World Liberty Monetary “to speed up blockchain innovation, stablecoin adoption, and decentralized finance integration throughout Pakistan.” In maybe an uncommon stage of engagement for a personal firm, Witkoff’s son Zach and different executives met with Sharif, Munir, and a number of other different officers together with the ministers of data and protection “to formalize cooperation,” in response to a Pakistani authorities readout of the assembly.
The Pakistan Crypto Council’s CEO, Bilal Bin Saqib, was named Pakistan’s minister for crypto and blockchain in Could, and he subsequently introduced at a crypto convention in Las Vegas that Pakistan would set up its personal strategic reserve for the cryptocurrency bitcoin.
Sheikh, the Pakistani ambassador, described the cryptocurrency hyperlinks as certainly one of a number of areas of engagement with the Trump administration. “The intent had at all times been there, however the content material was being added via mutual session, mutual comfort, and, in fact, mutual curiosity,” he stated. “We’re charting it out on minerals, on crypto, on power, on counterterrorism, well being, and schooling.”
Nevertheless, Younus argued that regardless of the eye, the impression of cryptocurrency ties on the U.S.-Pakistan relationship was being overestimated. “Clearly, when Zach Witkoff visits Pakistan and talks about crypto or Bilal Bin Saqib comes and meets folks within the White Home round crypto, then one thing’s afoot, nevertheless it’s been overblown by way of its affect,” he stated.
“What the federal government needs to do is discover a means to herald exchanges to formalize this sector,” Younus added. “Whether or not it’s the Trump household or others who wish to construct this in Pakistan, if you wish to are available in right here and discuss crypto and also you’re already registered and working within the West, we’re open for enterprise.”
College students maintain a poster depicting Munir and Trump in Mumbai on Aug. 8. Ashish Vaishnav/SOPA Photographs/LightRocket through Getty Photographs
Pakistan’s ascendancy in Trump’s second administration has coincided with a cooling in Washington’s relationship with Islamabad’s greatest rival, India.
Trump slapped India with among the highest tariffs on the earth—growing them to 50 % over New Delhi’s determination to hold buying Russian oil amid the Ukraine battle—and has been uncharacteristically vital of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
A lot of that animus flowed from a weeklong battle between India and Pakistan in early Could, following a terrorist assault in Indian-controlled Kashmir that New Delhi accused Islamabad of orchestrating. Indian retaliatory airstrikes escalated into the 2 nuclear-armed neighbors’ greatest conflict in years earlier than a sudden cease-fire 4 days later.
Trump claimed credit score for that cease-fire in a Fact Social publish, rankling India, which eschews any worldwide mediation in its relationship with Pakistan and has continued to insist that the 2 sides deescalated bilaterally. Pakistan, however, gave Trump full credit score and have become the primary nation to formally suggest him for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Sheikh stated that Pakistan heard from a number of nations through the battle, together with Arab Gulf nations and Turkey, however “the precise facilitation that lastly counted was by [Trump] and his administration.”
The U.S. president performed a “very optimistic and salutary position in bringing about that cease-fire,” the Pakistani ambassador added, citing as proof the truth that “the world got here to know of it” via Trump’s publish.
Regardless of the numerous divergences in Trump’s perspective towards the 2 neighbors, nonetheless, Haqqani argues that U.S. coverage towards both of them hasn’t shifted seismically.
“Trump is irritated with India over not having the type of commerce deal he wished, and he’s additionally irritated with Modi for not having the ‘generosity’ to provide him credit score when he wished it,” he stated. “However substantively, all of the components that made the U.S. and India companions over the past 20 years are all nonetheless there.”
For Pakistan, in the meantime, extra substantial financial or navy help is unlikely to materialize regardless of the bonhomie. “Pakistan at all times seems to be for financial help, [but] it’s not going to get any as a result of Trump shouldn’t be giving financial help to anyone,” Haqqani added. “Sure, the uswill be much less vital of Pakistan publicly, that’s a political benefit. Sure, the U.S. will most likely work with Pakistan on Afghanistan, however that most likely they had been already doing. I don’t see any big-ticket navy objects being offered to Pakistan anytime quickly.”
The India-U.S. relationship has additionally ticked again upward in latest weeks with the signing of a 10-year bilateral protection pact and the affirmation of distinguished Trump acolyte Sergio Gor as the brand new U.S. ambassador to New Delhi. Whereas the tariffs stay in place and a commerce deal stays elusive, Trump has additionally softened his tone towards Modi.
“He’s a buddy of mine,” the U.S. president stated of the Indian chief early final month.
Protesters maintain placards claiming U.S. interference within the India-Pakistan battle, in Kolkata, India, on Could 14. Debajyoti Chakraborty/Getty Photographs
Trump’s peace dealer instincts may quickly be put to the take a look at once more. Twin blasts in New Delhi and Islamabad in mid-November—each handled as terror assaults by the respective governments—raised hackles in each capitals. Either side have been cautious of their attribution and investigations to date, sparking hope {that a} broader conflagration may be averted this time. However a still-simmering latest battle between Pakistan and Afghanistan, throughout which the Afghan international minister visited New Delhi, is a reminder of how a lot of a tinderbox the area stays.
Claiming credit score apart, Trump’s curiosity in continued stability within the area is clear. “What he’ll doubtless proceed to do is absolutely remind all people—particularly the Indians and the Pakistanis—that he doesn’t need them stepping into one other battle, mini or not,” stated Younus. “That’s primarily as a result of it’s a distraction for his administration, however extra importantly it create[s] and insert[s] volatility into his plans for the Center East.”
Past that, Trump’s transactional outlook and choice for bilateral negotiations imply he’s far much less inclined to hyperlink India and Pakistan or weigh one in opposition to the opposite than different presidents might need been. “President Trump doesn’t view U.S. relations with India and with Pakistan as a zero-sum sport or in a broader strategic context,” the previous U.S. diplomat stated. “He doesn’t view good relations with one nation as detrimental to good relations with the opposite.”
That’s precisely what Pakistan needs. “Don’t take a look at us via the Chinese language, Indian, Russian, Afghan, Iranian lens,” Sheikh stated. “We’d like our personal lens. We’d like our personal, stand-alone, on our personal advantage, relations with america, void of us being impacted by some other bilateral relationship that america might have, and vice versa.”
Sharif speaks alongside Trump through the Gaza summit in Sharm El-Sheikh on Oct. 13. Suzanne Plunkett/AFP through Getty Photographs
The problem for Pakistan now will probably be sustaining that relationship with an unpredictable U.S. president—whose proclivities it has navigated successfully to date—whereas additionally making certain the connection can outlast him. Delivering on its vital minerals guarantees and enjoying a job in sustaining peace within the Center East will probably be key to these efforts, in response to Younus. Pakistan’s latest signing of a landmark safety pact with Saudi Arabia will additional enmesh it within the area’s destiny.
Sheikh is conscious that Pakistan should work to make sure its early-term Trump good points are sustainable. “Our relationship seems to be good, nearly as good because it has ever been by way of seems to be, nevertheless it seems to be good,” he stated. “In our future interactions on the way in which ahead, we have now to make good on it.”
